Advocates Call for Swift Action in Response to Community
Concerns of Disease Clusters

         October 30, 2008 – San Diego, California – Former U.S. Surgeon
General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders joined activists last night in kicking off
a campaign geared toward raising awareness and more effective response
to disease clusters in the country. Matt Wilhelm of the San Diego
Chargers and his wife, Vanessa as well as Steve Altman, President of
Qualcomm and his wife Lisa joined and aided the organization to raise
more than $25,000 towards this vital and emerging cause.

         A “disease cluster” is an unexpectedly large number of cases of
the same or similar diseases in a geographic area over a defined period
of time. The environment plays an important role in human development
and health. All populations are not created equal when it comes to
their ability to withstand environmental insults without serious health
consequences. It is well documented that exposure to toxic chemicals
can have a devastating impact on the fetus or on infants during
developmental “windows of vulnerability” when cells are dividing
rapidly.

         The campaign, “No Disease Clusters Anymore,” was spearheaded by
the nonprofit organization, the National Disease Clusters Alliance.

         Other speakers included Trevor Smith, a youth advocate for NDCA
and brain cancer survivor; and Dee Lewis, Executive Director of NDCA who
led the battle to uncover the environmental causes of the disease
cluster in the Calvine-Florin community in Sacramento.

         According to Lewis, “government resources, capacity, protocols,
and methodology have all been found inadequate for assisting
communities that are confronting a known or suspected
environmentally-related disease cluster.”

         Every year, residents request investigations into more than
1,000 suspected cancer clusters.  In 2002, a suspected cluster was
identified outside of San Diego. Valley Center residents have
documented 14 cases of childhood cancer between 1997 and 2002. Parents
believed there may be a link in the cases, with most of the children
affected living in the same general area.

According to Trevor Smith, NDCA Youth Ambassador (former San Diego
resident) of the McCall, Idaho suspected cancer cluster,” Cancer is
like a pebble dropped into still water – the effect ripples through
your life, your family, and your community.”

About NDCA

NDCA promotes vibrant, healthy communities through empowerment and
supportive partnerships. NDCA was formed out of the urgent need to
identify and respond to emerging disease clusters. NDCA is comprised of
agency, staff, nonprofit organizations, community activists,
scientists, and academia.